Restoration Engineer (P.E.)

Cannabis for Conservation is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit whose mission is to conserve persisting natural resources, restore degraded ecosystems, and educate communities to prevent further impacts from unsustainable cannabis cultivation. Our focus is on enhancing and restoring landscapes that have been impacted by cannabis cultivation, and transitioning monocrop cannabis farms to functional agroecosystems for the benefit of wildlife, land, water, and our communities. Briefly, we manage a variety of grant-funded projects that include watershed enhancement and restoration, rare and declining pollinator research, wildfire resilience and forest management, aquatic invasive species management, and environmental compliance and education. We are seeking to hire a dynamic Restoration Engineer (P.E.).

Position Overview: The primary role of the Restoration Engineer (P.E.) is to lead or support the evaluation, design, permitting, and implementation of stream and watershed restoration projects, including stream crossings (e.g., culverts, bridges, rock fords), sediment reduction measures, and aquatic habitat enhancements. This position requires a strong foundation in civil engineering and a passion for working in multidisciplinary teams to improve ecological function in degraded landscapes. The Restoration Engineer (P.E.) will work closely with internal staff, subcontractors, permitting agencies, landowners, and other project stakeholders to deliver technically sound and ecologically beneficial restoration designs.

This role includes a combination of office-based design and analysis, permitting, technical writing, and field-based assessment, construction oversight, and post-project monitoring. This position will require extensive planning and permitting, technical reporting, and field work during the field season.  

Required Skills:  

Technical and Engineering Expertise 

• Strong understanding of civil engineering principles, including the sub-discipline of restoration engineering, particularly related to stream and/or watershed restoration, stream crossings, erosion control, and road drainage systems in forested and/or rural watersheds;
• Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D and related design software; ability to independently produce and revise grading, drainage, and construction drawings;
• Ability to interpret and integrate biological, ecological, and geomorphic data into engineering design;
• Demonstrated experience preparing basis-of-design reports, design plans, technical specifications, and cost estimates for restoration or infrastructure projects;
• Familiarity with construction practices, materials, and sequencing, including fishconscious techniques and sediment control;
• Experience and ability to achieve mastery expertise with hydrologic or streamflow modelling tools (e.g., HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, HY-8, FishXing), flow criteria, and assessing hydrologic and geomorphic indicators of restoration success; and
• Familiarity with relevant permitting processes and environmental compliance requirements (e.g., CEQA, NEPA, 401/404, LSAA).

Communication and Collaboration

• Effective verbal and written communication skills for collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, regulatory agencies, landowners, and technical partners; and
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to foster cooperative partnerships across diverse stakeholders.

Project Management and Teamwork

• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-partner projects, including deliverable tracking, coordination with staff, subcontractors, and landowners, and adherence to timelines;
• Excellent organization and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and project components simultaneously; and
• Ability to work independently in both field and office environments while contributing effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Technical Writing

• Strong technical writing skills with experience preparing reports, permit applications, and construction documents. Fieldwork and Travel Requirements
• Experience conducting field work in remote, rugged environments, while adhering to safety protocols; and
• Willingness to travel to remote field sites, including occasional overnight trips; valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and ability to use a personal vehicle for standard travel with mileage reimbursement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field;
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in any U.S. state, with the ability to obtain California licensure within six (6) months of hire; and
• At least 8 years of experience in engineering design and/or field implementation of restoration or infrastructure projects.

Desired Qualifications:  

• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing watershed restoration projects, including rural road upgrades, drainage improvements, and sediment-reduction BMPs in forested or rural settings;
• Experience with stream simulation or fish passage design techniques (e.g., natural channel design, boulder roughened channels, embedded culverts);
• Knowledge of California’s water quality standards, road maintenance techniques, and sediment reduction practices, especially in forested and/or rural watersheds;
• Experience using GPS survey equipment, drone-based mapping, and/or GIS for data collection and analysis;
• Passion for ecological restoration and collaborative watershed stewardship;
• ESRI ArcGIS experience including managing geodatabase infrastructure and using Spatial Analyst and 3D tools; and
• Familiarity with Northern California, particularly Humboldt, Trinity, or Mendocino areas; preference will also be given to applicants with diverse employment experience, e.g., experience with agencies, private industry, and nonprofit organizations.

Location and Work Environment

This position is based out of Cannabis for Conservation’s office in Blue Lake, California. The Restoration Engineer (P.E.) must reside within or be willing to relocate to the North Coast region and be available for frequent in-person fieldwork across Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties. While some flexible scheduling and remote work are allowed, this is not a fully remote position. Regular site visits, team meetings, and collaboration with local partners will require consistent on-the-ground presence.

Supervision and Coordination  

The Restoration Engineer (P.E.) will report directly to the Project Manager at CFC and will collaborate closely with all consultants and subcontractors with whom we work. Regular weekly check-ins and updates will be required to ensure alignment with project goals and timelines, with tasks and progress tracked in Asana to enhance coordination and accountability.